Re: Is Moscow Growing Too Fast?

[Greg Brown <gregb@alaskapacific.edu>]

John Danahy wrote:

>
>2)  We have seen a city expand in area by 50% or from 4+ square miles to 6+
>square miles.  City services have had to expand to reach the new city
>boundaries and to reach the new (willing and unwilling) city residents.
>
   City expansion through incorporation is almost always a losing 
proposition
financially.  The increased tax revenues do not cover
the cost of the extension of city services.  But cities are often (not
always) trapped....if they don't expand and incorporate, they
don't gain additional tax revenues.  If cities hold the line, the urban
fringe free rides on city services.

    Cities that are inclined to control growth (Moscow is not in
this category) also need a cooperative county government to put the
brakes on urban sprawl.  Latah County has opted out of any voice
in urban expansion.  Moscow is city that never says no to growth
and Latah County has deferred to the city on urban expansion.  
The outcome is inevitable, and depending on your values,
regrettable.

-- 
Greg Brown (gregb@alaskapacific.edu)
Associate Professor and Chair
Environmental Science Department
Alaska Pacific University
(907) 564-8267
http://polar.alaskapacific.edu/gregb